Looking to purchase a chest freezer to ferment primarily ales (60 - 70 degree range). Would have the freezer in a garage here in NE FL, so you can imagine it gets pretty hot during the long summers. I'm currently fermenting in an old fridge which is on its last legs, so I already have the external temp controller.

Is there anything I need to do special to ensure proper function and prevent any problems with this set-up? I recall reading a post awhile back that recommended caulking all the seams with silicon to prevent condensation leaks perhaps? Is this necessary and would there be anything else I would need to do?

You might want to place a pan of commercial desiccant in the bottom of the freezer. Once a week or so you can dry it out in the oven. This does a fair job of removing the excess condensation you are sure to have in Florida.

HD or Blowes would only have the non-rechargable desicants. Damp rid requires the liquid condensate be dumped and the chemical replaced every week or so. A better option would be silica gel used to dry flowers. Try a Michael's or Hobby Lobby type store. Last time I got some it came in a can about a foot tall. Also the little packets that come in electronic equipment are a simular material.

It get's hot and humid enough here in Indiana in the summer and Damp Rid has worked great at keeping the moisture out of both my fermentation freezer and my kegerator... I keep several tubs of it in each freezer, like maybe 3-4 in each... I've had 4 carboys in primary at one time in my fermentation freezer and the DampRid handled the moisture beautifully.... I dump out the water and replace the Damp Rid when I notice it's getting low which probably occurs once every couple of months... I keep them in year round although it's not needed in my kegerator in the winter months... I do what Don does and just keep an extra refill box around so i have it when needed...Damn Brewing's Fun!!!!

Hophead wrote: Quite frankly, if the main purpose is to ferment ales, and not to cold condition, lager, and/or serve, you'd be much better off with a refridgerator...

I disagree. The chest freezer type configuration is much more useful than an upright design, such as you would find in a refrigerator. My 17 cubic foot chest freezer will hold 10 cornies or 5 cornies and 2 6.5 gallon carboys plus a case of bottled commercial beers and assorted glassware regardless of keg/carboy configuration. Show me a refrigerator that will do that. I use my freezer for both fermenting and dispensing simultaneously. I keep the freezer at about 48 degrees with an analog controller for dispensing and for fermenting my carboys wear neoprene parkas each with a 40 watt thin-film heater between the glass and neoprene. These heaters are run by separate digital temp. controllers. I find this setup works great.

Yes, Brew Lab, condensation can be a problem in freezers used for fermentation and lagering. A humid climate only aggravates the situation. Moisture collects in the bottom and eventually can cause rust, shortening the life of the freezer. It's best to use some kind of desiccant to reduce the problem.

The main reason for considering a chest freezer is simply more room and flexibility. I can just fit 2 6 gal. carboys in my current fridge, whereas in a large chest freezer it appears you could probably get at least 4 in. Also, my fridge is old and tired and I think one gets more value from a freezer as compared to what a fridge costs.

Finally, not that I won't ever brew lagers in the future, I just prefer ales and frankly haven't posessed the patience to lager a beer for 3+ months.

If I do go the chest freezer route I hope using the dessicant will prevent a condensation problem. I've recently read postings on various brew sites of chest freezers used in this manner meeting an early demise.